In a scene reminiscent of Jay Weatherill's infamous stoush with Josh Frydenberg, senior ministers in the WA and federal governments have bagged each other over rail funding while standing side-by-side at a press conference.

The media event with WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Federal Social Services Minister Christian Porter quickly descended into tit-for-tat, as the two criticised each other over public transport funding despite standing inches apart.